7 Tips to Turbocharge File Transfers on Windows 11

If you’ve ever felt your patience wearing thin while waiting for files to transfer on your shiny new Windows 11 machine, welcome to the club. A speedy operating system like Windows 11 deserves blazing-fast file transfers, but sometimes things don’t work out that way. Luckily, you're not at the mercy of these sluggish speeds. With a few strategic moves, you can turbocharge file transfers and get back to doing what really matters (even if that’s just binge-watching your favorite show).
Let’s dig into these seven practical tips to speed up file transfers while diving into why they work and how you can implement each tweak like a pro.

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1. Use SSDs Over HDDs (Because Speed Is in Your DNA)​

If your computer is still hobbling along with a traditional HDD (Hard Disk Drive), you're essentially trying to race a sports car while riding a bicycle. HDDs are mechanical, with spinning platters that inherently limit their speed. On the flip side, SSDs (Solid-State Drives) are as solid as their name suggests—no moving parts and way faster.

• Why It Works:

SSDs can transfer data at speeds ranging from 500 MB/s (standard SSDs) to roughly 3,000 MB/s (NVMe SSDs). Compare that to HDDs, which typically max out between 30 MB/s and 150 MB/s.

• Upgrade Tip:

Consider upgrading your drive to an SSD or NVMe SSD for unparalleled file transfer speeds. If you’re using external drives, ensure they are SSD-based as well.
Pro Insider: Already have an SSD, but things still feel slow? Ensure "TRIM" is enabled. It's like defragging an SSD but way smarter and faster.

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2. Plug Into USB 3.0 Ports (Or Even USB 3.1 or 3.2)​

If you're transferring files to or from an external storage device, USB port selection can make or break your speed. USB 3.0—or newer standards like USB 3.1 or USB 3.2—can transfer up to 5 GB/s. Meanwhile, USB 2.0 limps along at a snail-like 480 MB/s.

• How to Identify USB 3.0 Ports:

They’re often marked with a blue interior or labeled with “SS” (SuperSpeed). Not sure? Head to Device Manager in Windows 11 and expand "Universal Serial Bus Controllers." Look for port descriptions containing "USB 3.0" or above.
Hazard Alert: Plugging a USB 3.0 storage device into a USB 2.0 port will throttle your speed to USB 2.0 limits. Why waste potential?

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3. Use NTFS Over FAT32 (Efficiency Matters)​

You might not think much about your drive's file system, but it can have a huge impact on performance. FAT32, an older file system, comes with significant drawbacks like slow management of files and a 4GB size limitation per file. On the other hand, NTFS (New Technology File System) is optimized for Windows and downright better for speed.

How to Check File System:​

• Open File Explorer (Windows+E).
• Right-click the drive you’re working with.
• Select Properties and check the "File system" value under the General tab.

Switching to NTFS Without Formatting:​

• Open Command Prompt as admin (Windows+S > search "Command Prompt" > Choose “Run as Administrator”).
• Run:
  

  convert X: /fs:ntfs

  Replace "X" with the drive letter.

Heads-Up: If your drive is empty, format it directly to NTFS for a cleaner conversion, using File Explorer's Format option. But always back up important data first!

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4. Try Robocopy for Command-Line Precision​

File Explorer drag-and-drop might be easy, but it’s no racecar. Enter Robocopy—basically the Usain Bolt of file copy commands. With multithreading and fail-safe options, it laughs at interruptions while speeding up transfers.

The Command:​

If copying from C:\Source to D:\Dest, run:

robocopy "C:\Source" "D:\Dest" /e /z /mt:16

What Do These Switches Mean?​

• /e: Copies all subdirectories, even empty ones.
• /z: Enabling resume capability if the transfer is interrupted.
• /mt:16: Multithreading with 16 threads for faster processing. Adjust thread count based on your CPU.

Not a fan of command lines? Save the command in a .bat file for one-click automation. Trust me, you’ll feel like a tech ninja at work.

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5. Disable Real-Time Antivirus (Temporarily!)​

Your antivirus software is like a paranoid gatekeeper—it scrutinizes every file you move. While that’s great for security, it isn’t helping your transfer speeds. Temporarily disabling real-time scanning may help.

Quick Steps:​

• Open Windows Security (Windows+S → search "Windows Security").
• Navigate to Virus & Threat Protection.
• Choose Manage Settings under "Virus & Threat Protection Settings."
• Toggle Real-Time Protection OFF.

Just make sure to re-enable it once your transfers are complete. Security first!
Warning: Only disable antivirus temporarily during file transfers, and ensure that the files being moved are trustworthy.

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6. Compress Before Copying​

If size is slowing you down, make it smaller! Compressing files not only reduces the amount of data being transferred but also simplifies the process by bundling multiple files into one.

Built-In Compression on Windows:​

• Highlight the files in File Explorer.
• Right-click and choose Show More Options → Send to → Compressed (Zipped) Folder.

Alternatively, third-party tools like 7-Zip or WinRAR offer advanced compression formats (like .7z and .rar) that can squeeze file sizes even further.
Techie Insight: Decompression speeds are often quicker than traditional file transfer times—and modern CPUs handle it like a breeze.

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7. Close Background Apps (Don’t Multitask!)​

Even apps running silently in the background can hog your system’s resources, spreading your PC’s power thin and bottlenecking file transfers. Don’t let resource-hungry software steal your file transfer thunder.

Kill Unwanted Apps:​

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
• Under the Processes tab, sort by CPU or Disk usage.
• Select unnecessary apps and hit End Task.

For stubborn apps that refuse to close, double-tapping the X button is just a starting point—Task Manager lets you show them the door.

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Final Thoughts: Becoming a File Transfer Speed Guru​

File transfers don’t have to be a test of endurance. Whether you’re moving work presentations, family photos, or your secret stash of memes, these tips can drastically improve speeds. From ensuring your hardware is pulling its weight (hello, SSD and USB 3.0 ports!) to leveraging software efficiencies like NTFS and Robocopy, each tweak chips away at wasted time.
Have your own file transfer hacks or want to share how these tips helped? Jump into the discussion here at WindowsForum.com and be part of the conversation! After all, life’s too short for slow file transfers.
Happy speeding, Windows warriors!

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Source: How-To Geek 7 Tips to Speed Up File Transfers on Windows 11